Quote:
Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
I think the term came about because "conservative" simply does not inspire fear and loathing in anyone. There is no threatening or radical undertone lurking in the background. The "neo" prefix adds that connotation. Notice no such prefix is required for "liberal"; it stands alone as a term that inspires fear and loathing. It has all the threatening and radical undertones it needs to survive on its own.
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You're half-right IMO. Liberals haven't truly changed their stance since the 60s, so there's no need for a name change. Conservatives, on the other hand, have traditionally been the party of small government and of government staying out of affairs not relating to itself. Since about the time of Newt Gingrich (going back to Reagan would be stretching it), a new approach has come about with the conservatives, where they want the government to meddle around in personal freedoms and ideologies. Not all of this can be blamed on conservatives. I think a rise in the global economy has plenty to do with neo-conservatism on many levels. In fact, globally, I would expect the Democrats - not necessarily diehard liberals, to adopt an attitude much like conservatives given circumstances like threats to our int'l interests.
The influx of the religious right concerns me more as its agenda is aimed at truncating personal liberties of a woman's right to choose, gay marriage and certain lessons taught in public school, to name a few. To date, I have never seen religion so intermixed with politics as it is now. It's as if the separation of church and state has been completely disregarded in the last 10-15 years.